Nut-cracking machine.



RAT-"ENTED AUG. 15, 1905. s. M. BROWN. NUT CRACKING MACHINE. ABPLIOATIONFILED AUG. 19. 1 904.

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. Jaye/757 Q PATENTED AUG.15; 1905.

, s. M. BROWN.

NUT CRACKING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILfID AUG. 19 1904.

mow-v. a. GMNAII co. mow-mumm wins. w-suwqvol I PATENTED'AUG. 15, 1905.s. M. BROWN. NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19,1904.

H, llil Q ay l L will H 'ialrrmm nnonsw. a. mumu 00.. Pncwmmmmna, wsnmcnm u a PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

S. M. BROWN.

NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19. 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Min /3152a? 4 I rar g I mimgr No. 797,260. I PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

S. M. vBROWN.

NUT CRACKING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.19.1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

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/ZIZ/ I L K II i ll I I V I 3 k /l/ 0 f3 F N .L J 3 j++ix k I j/l (I) Ydew /2 WM m No. 797,260. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905. .s. M.- BROWN. NUTCRACKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19.1904.

. 'ISHEETS-BHEET 7.

PATENT OFFICE.

SILAS M. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

NUT-CRACKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed August 19, 1904. Serial No. 221,412.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SILAS M. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Nut-Cracking Machines;andI do hereby declare that the following is a full. clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to improvements in nut-cracking machines; and theinvention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Among the objects of the invention is to improve the construction andoperation of nutcracking machines, whereby the capacity of the machineis increased, both by reason of the ability to operate the machinerapidly and by reason of the reduction to a minimum of miscracked nutsand abortive operations of the parts of the machine by reason of entirefailure to direct the nuts to the cracking mechanism or improperlypresenting the same to said mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a compact machine,requiring but little room for its occupancy.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improvedcracking mechanism constructed to automatically adjust itself to nuts ofdifferent lengths, whereby the cracking pressure or strain on the nutsof several lengths may be equalized, and in this connection the crackingmechanism is so constructed that nuts of different lengths aretransversely centered on the carrying-chain.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means forfeeding the nuts from a central feeding-hopper to the carrier, by whichthe nuts are presented to the cracking mechanism.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide improvements in theraceway or guide for the carrier, whereby the chain may be dropped belowthe level of the cracking-plungers when the cracking operation takesplace, thereby preventing contact of the plungers with the carrier in amanner tending to break or crush the contacting metal parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for givingthe carrier an intermittent motion combined with niechanlsm forautomatically and positively locking the chain from movement during thecracking operation.

Other objects of the invention will be made clear from the followingdescription of the machine and to which are specifically directedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a frontelevation of a nut-cracking machinemade in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevationthereof. Fig. 2 is a detail of one of the levers of the mechanism fordelivering the nuts to the carrier. Fig. 3 is a transverse verticalsection of the machine, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an endview of the machine. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional and plan viewtaken on the indirect line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontalsectional and partially plan view taken on the indirect line 6 6 of Fig.2 with parts omitted. Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view takenon line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a partial elevation and partial sectionof the mechanism for operating the cracking-plungers, the view beingtaken on line 8 8 of Fig. 5, omitting some of the parts not directlyconnected with this feature of the machine. Fig. 9 is a fragmentaryvertical section illustrating, on a larger scale, the plungers and partscooperating therewith and the means for depressing the nut-carrying beltduring the cracking operation. Fig. 9 is a transverse section taken online 9 9 of Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a transverse section taken on line 10 10of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a section taken through the cracking-plungers andthe guides therefor and the means for operating the plungers, taken online 11 11 of Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on line 1212 of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the plungersdetached from its associated and operative parts. Fig. 14 is afragmentary sectional view taken on line 14 14 of Fig. 3. Fig. 15 is afragmentary sectional view taken on line 15 15 of Fig. 3. Fig. 16 is afragmentary sectional view taken on line 16 16 of Fig. 5.

As shown in the drawings, A designates as a whole what may be termed thebed-frame of the machine, which is supported on standards A. Saidbed-frame is shown as detachably connected with the standards by meansof screw-bolts a. Fig. 3.

B designates a hopper located over the bedframe of the machine and whichreceives the nuts in a mass and from which they are delivered severallyby means of a suitable feeding mechanism to the cracking mechanism. Saidhopper is supported on standards B B, rising from and attached to thebed-frame of the machine, Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and suitably shaped attheir upper ends to receive the hopper.

The means herein shown for feeding the nuts from the hopper to thecracking mechanism embrace an intermittently-advancing carrier thattravels between the oppositely-located cooperative parts of the crackingmechanism, chutes for delivering the nuts to said carrier, and a feedingbelt moving through the hopper and delivering or feeding into the upperend of said chutes. Said parts are made as follows: C designates as awhole the endless feeding-belt referred to, which travels for a part ofits length through the bottom and up one of the sloping sides of thehopper. Said belt U consists of a plurality of transverse parallelloosely-connected bars 0, arranged edge to edge and connected at theirends to the links of sprocket-belts 0 Figs. 2 and 14, said bars and thebelts constituting as a whole apractically continuous web-belt,having-pockets c to receive the nuts and to carry them out of thehopper. Said pockets have the form of. recesses in the bars 0.sprocket-chains 0 are trained about sprocketwheels C C, one pair at thefront and one pair at the rear end of the machine, and the shaft 0 ofsaid sprocket-wheels are rotatively mounted in suitable bearings, asshown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the drawings. The hopper is provided inits bottom and one of its sloping side walls with an opening, throughwhich the upper lap of the belt extends.

The feed-belt C is supported in the part of its upper lap which passesthrough said elongated opening or slot in the hopper by a plate 6attached to the hopper by angle-bars 1), Figs. 8 and 14. The manner ofimparting an intermittent movement to the feed-belt .and for directingthe nuts delivered from the will be hereinafter described. Y

The cracking mechanism embraces two groups of opposing coactingplungers, a like number of plungers in each group, and arranged onegroup on each side of the path of the nut-carrier which delivers thenuts between the groups of plungers. As herein. shown, D D designate theplungers of the opposing group, which have sliding engagement withapertured guides D D, Figs. 9, 11, and 12, located opposite each other,one on each side of the path of the nuts through the machine, and in theinstance shown the several plungers of each group are separately movabletoward and from the alined or op'posingplungers of the other group, andsaid plungers cooperate with means which act severally on the plungersto advance them to their cracking position in such manner as hopperthereby to the cracking mechanism The- to advance each plunger only toan extent corresponding to the lengths of the nut, so that when crackingnuts of unequal length the plungers will be projected toward theircracking positions to an extent determined by the lengths of the nuts.

Before describing in detail the manner of operating thecracking-plungers the location of the nut carrier or conveyer will bereferred to and the manner of delivering the nuts from the hopper to thecarrier described.

E designates the nut-carrying belt or conveyer, the upper lap of whichtravels between the guides D of the cracking-plungers. Said carrier orconveyor is made up of a plurality of loosely-connected links shaped toform a plurality of transverse pockets, which laterally receive the nutsdelivered thereto, and said pockets are so disposed that when thecarrier is arrested the plungers are in line with a numberof pocketsequal to the number of pairs of opposing plungers of the two groups.Said carrier E is trained over front and rear sprocket-wheels E E theshafts e e of which are rotatively mounted in any suitable manner in themachine-frame. The bearings for the shaft 6 consist offorwardly-directed arms a' rt, attached to or formed on the bed-frame ofthe machine, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and the bearings for the shaft 0consist of rearwardly-directed arms a C62. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 7 Thesaid bearingarms (6 have slotted connection with the bedframe of themachine, being attached thereto by bolts a Fig. 7, whereby the tensionof the conveyer may be established and maintained.

(/hutes F F are provided for directing the nuts which are caught in thepockets of the feed-belt C as it passes through the hopper to the upperlap of the carrier E at the rear end of the machine and for arrangingsaid nuts one in advance of the other in said pockets, so that whateverthe number of nuts thus simultaneously delivered to the belt they arecracked at the same time. Said chutes are inclined downwardly andforwardly and are arranged at their upper ends to severallyreceive thenuts from the delivery-belt C and are connected at their lower ends withdevices for delivering the nuts which are discharged therethrough to thepockets of the intermittently-advancing conveyer E one in front of theother. As herein shown, four of such inclined chutes are employed andare adapted to receive the nuts from four pockets 0' in each bar 0 ofthe delivery-belt C, the nuts from the four pockets. beingsimultaneously discharged into the upper end of the four chutes. Thenuts are discharged from the delivery-belt G into the upper ends of thechutes F as the belt turns over the upper pulley C, Fig. 3, and aredirected through said chutes into boxes F F at the sides of the carrierE. Four chutes and four boxes are herein shown, two boxes arranged oneach side of the carrier E, one arranged in front of the other, and eachof the boxes being laterally opposite one of four contiguous pockets ofthe carrier E, Fig. 5. Means are provided, hereinafter described, whichsimultaneously discharge the four nuts from the boxes into four pocketsof the carrier E. A greater or less number of nuts may be thus deliveredto the carrier E, as desired. Said chutes F are supported at their upperends, with their receiving ends in line with the pockets of thedelivery-belt C in the manner stated, by means of a crossbar F, which,as herein shown, has the form of a bail and is attached to and extendsrearwardly from the bearings of the shaft 0 of the upper sprocket-wheelC. The nuts thus delivered through the chutes F into the boxes F and inline with the transverse pockets of the conveyer E when the conveyer isat rest are delivered through openings in the inner walls of the boxes,as shown in Fig. 3, by means of plungers G G, which slide transverselythrough the pockets, and thereby force the nuts delivered into the boxesthrough said openings into the pockets of the conveyer. The inner wallsof the boxes in which said openings are formed consist partially ofswinging spring-pressed members or doors f Said doors are located abovethe openings in the wall of the boxes. When the nuts are deliveredproperly into the boxes, they pass through the openings therein into thepockets of the carrier E without swinging the doors outwardly, unless,perhaps, the nut be extraordinarily large. Should a nut be deliveredcrosswise. in the box, however, the yielding wall of the box permits thenut to adjust itself when forced outwardly from the box into one of thecarrier-pockets, and thereby avoids liability of crushing the nut, whichmight occur if the inner wall of the box be stationary.

As herein shown, there is one plunger for each box F each two adjacentplungers or ejectors being arranged in pairs and connected together bymeans of a connecting bar or plate 9, which has sliding engagement withparallel guide-rods G G, that are attached at their outer ends to arms aa, projecting laterally from the bed-frame A, as shown in Fig. 5, andare fastened at their inner ends to the machine-frame by being providedwith hooked inner ends 9', Figs. 2 and 15, which fit between thebearing-brackets a of the rear shaft 6 of the conveyer sprocket-wheelbefore mentioned and the part of the machine to which said bearings arefastened. The said bearing-brackets are fastened to the machine-frame bymeans of bolts a Said connecting-plates g, by which the ejectors G aremoved inwardly to eject the nuts from the boxes F to the transversepockets of the carrier E, are operatively connected with certainmechanism of the machine (hereinafter to be described) in such mannerthat when the carrier E is at rest the nuts delivered to said boxes areforced therefrom by the plungers or ejectors into the pockets of thecarrier.

The endless carrier E, which receives the nuts from the boxes F andwhich delivers the same to the crushing-plungers, has imparted thereto,as before stated, an intermittent forward or advance movement. In thepresent case the length of such intermittent movement is equal to thatof four of the transverse pockets of the conveyer; but in casemore orless than four nuts are delivered to the carrier at one time the lengthof each advance intermittent movement of the conveyer will becorrespondingly modified. The mechanism herein shown for giving suchintermittent advance movement to the conveyer E are made as follows,reference being had more especially to Figs 1, 4, 5, and 7: H designatesa disk which is non-rotatively affixed to the shaft 6 of the forwardsprocket-wheel of the carrier E and is provided on one of its flat faceswith a plurality of radial guide-grooves it, each formed betweenparallel ridges or flanges h on the face of the disk. Said disk isprovided, as herein shown, with seven of such radial grooves and isprovided in its periphery between the grooves with concave depressions bLocated adjacent to the periphery of said disk and non-rotatively fixedto a shaft 1, that has rotative bearing in brackets 60 on themachine-frame, is adisk I, the principal part of which is located inline with the web of the disk H and the concentric part of which disk 1is adapted for engagement with the concave recesses h in the peripheryof said disk H. Said disk I is provided with an eccentric extension 1which carries on its outer end a laterally-directed pin 2', preferablyhaving an antifriction-roller, Fig. 7. The eccentric part of said disk Iis offset so as to permit said eccentric part in its rotation to passthe ribs, between which are formed the radial grooves h of the disk H,while permitting the concentric portion of said disk to engage with theconcave locking-recesses k of the disk H. The pin 71, extendinglaterally from the eccentric portion of the disk I, is adapted in eachrevolution of said disk to enter one of the radial grooves it of saiddisk H and turn said disk, said pin travelinginto said groove. andreaching the bottom thereof at about the middle of the movement of saidshaft H and thereafter receding from the groove, thus giving to the diskH an angular movement corresponding to the arc of the circle throughwhich the pin z' passes while engaged with said groove, and after saidpin c' passes out of said groove the concentric part of the disk Iengages with the next succeeding or advance depression k in the web ofthe disk and acts as a stop to prevent further rotation of the disk Huntil the disk I is revolved sufficiently to bring its pin i intoengagement with the next succeeding grooveiz.

of the disk H.

E are both fixed to the shaft 0 such intermittent movement imparted tothe disk is also imparted to the wheel E and thence to the carrier.Furthermore, by reason of the locking engagement-of the disk 1 with thedisk H, while the concentric portion of said disk 1 is in engagementwith the locking concave notches I)? of the disk H the conveyor-belt ispositively locked from movement until it is again desired to turn thesame, except at such times when the pin t' of the extension I. engagesone of the grooves of the disk H. It will be understood that the machineis so timed that the locking operation of the parts described occursduring the cracking operation of the cracking mechanism and that as soonas a group of nuts delivered to the belt is cracked the carrier E isadvanced by the means described, thereby moving the group or series ofcracked nuts out of the sphere of action of the crack-- ing mechanismand moving another group of uncracked nuts into such sphere of action.The cracked nuts are discharged from the carrier E at the time saidcarrier is turning over the forward pulley E, and in practice asuitablereceptacle or a chute leading to a receptacle is placed beneath the beltat this point to receive the cracked nuts. The shaft I is continuouslyrotatable, and for this purpose such shaft is provided with asprocket-wheel 1 Figs. 1, 5, and-7, which receives motion through themedium of asprocket-belt J, Fig. 7, from a sprocket-wheel J that isaifixed to a rotative counter-shaft K, which is rotatively mounted inthe lower part of the machineframe and extends longitudinally thereof,as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7. Said counter-shaft isdriven from the main shaft L of the machine rotatively mounted in theframe at the ends thereof. The driving connection between said mainshaft and counter-shaft consists of a gear-pinion Z, Fig. 3, on the mainshaft and a gear-wheel 7) on the countershaft. The main shaft L isprovided with the usual tight and loose pulleys Z Z adapted to receive abelt through which power is communicated to the machine.

The delivery-belt C is givenan intermittent advance movement through theopening provided therefor in the hopper through the medium of mechanismso timed with respect to the other parts of the machine that atransverse series of pockets of said belt filled with nuts are broughtinto position to deliver the nuts into the tops of the chutes F as saidbelt turns over the upper pulley O and just after the carrier E has beenadvanced to carry a charge of nuts delivered thereto from said chutes,whereby the charging-boxes F are clear before another charge of nutsisdelivered thereto. The mechanism herein shown for imparting to saiddelivery-belt such intermittent step-by-step movement is as fol- Byreason of the fact that said disk H andthe sprocket-wheel E of thecarrier lows: M, Figs. 1, 2, and 4:, designates avertically-reciprocatory rod which is provided at its lower end with ahead or enlargement M, having a downwardly-facing groove or shoulder m,that is adapted to be engaged by an antifriction-roller d", mounted onapin that extends laterally inwardly from a crank-arm i aflixed to theshaft 1, whereby during each rotation of said shaft -1 the rod M isforced upwardly and again falls to its lowermost position. The upper endof said rod is pivoted or hinged to'a rock-arm M that has rockingconnection with the shaft 0 of the forward sprocket-wheel of thedelivery-belt C. Pivoted to said rock-arm is a gravity-acting pawl m,that engages at its free end the teeth of a ratchet-wheel M, which isnon-rotativel y fixed to said shaft 0 in any manner, whereby uponrotation of said ratchet-wheel, which is effected by the reciprocationof the rod M acting through said rock-arm andpawl to turn the ratchet-wheel, the shaft 0 rotates and through the medium of the lower or forwardsprocketwheel C imparts a step-by-step motion to the delivery belt. Theextent of motion imparted to the belt equals the space (consideredlongitudinally of the belt) covered by one of the bars of the belts, sothat the contents of the pockets of said bars are successivelydischarged into the chutes F as such step-by-step movement of the belt 0takes place.

Referring now to the mechanism for advancing the crushing-plungers Dtoward each other and against a group of nutslocated between saidplungers and contained in the pockets in the carrier for first centeringsaid nuts on the carrier and thereafter cracking the nuts and to themechanism for thereafter retracting said plungers, said parts are madeas follows: Each of the plungers D. as shown in Fig. 13, is provided atitsouter end with a head D and at its inner end with a concave recess d,Figs. 9 and 11, the latter adapted to receive the convex ends of thenuts to be cracked. The opposite lateral faces (Z of said head D arevertical and parallel with each other, as herein shown, and the top andbottom faces thereof are shown as horizontal. The rear face d3 of saidhead is oblique or inclined inwardly and upwardly from its lower to itsupper side. Said rear face of the head is provided at one side thereofwith a hooked shaped flange (Z which is separated from said rear face (Zthereby forming between the flange and the rear face of the head agroove 6Z5, the front and rear walls of which, consisting, respectively,of the rear face of the head and the front face of said flange, areinclined, so that said groove is inclined upwardly and inwardly from itslower end. The rear face (Z' of said flange is also inclined parallelwith therear face 613 of the head. Said plungers are assembled in theguide D with the flat lateral faces of their heads in contact with eachother, as shown more clearly in Fig. 11. N N designate a plurality ofvertically-sliding wedges, one for each plungerof each group, and saidwedges are interposed and slide vertically between the heads of saidplungers and cross-heads O, which move or slide in the direction ofmovement of the cracking-plungers. Said cross-heads O fit at their sidemargins and have sliding engagernent in suitable horizontalguide-grooves in the bed-frame of the machine, as more clearly shown inFig. 7. Pressure is applied to said cross-heads O in a horizontaldirection and acts through the wedges and plungers to produce the finalcracking pressure on the nuts, as will be more fully hereinafterdescribed. Said wedges N have interlocking guiding engagement with thecross-heads O to. guide them in their vertical movement. As hereinshown, the cross-heads are provided on their inner faces with verticalT-shaped flanges 0, made integral therewith or attached thereto, asdesired, and adapted to engage vertical grooves N in the adjoining facesof two adjacent wedges that is to say, the oppositely-directed parts ofeach flange 0 enter two oppositely-disposed grooves n in two adjacentwedges. Preferably the faces of adjacent wedges out of line with theT-shaped flanges 0 are cut away to minimize the friction between saidparts. The said wedges are provided near their front faces at theirlateral sides with inclined grooves 12/, which are inclined tocorrespond with the inclination of the rear faces d of the heads of thecracking-plungers and which are adapted to receive the hook-shapedflanges (Z,pro jecting from the rear faces of said heads. Preferably,and as herein shown, the plungers, arranged in pairs as described, aredisposed with the hooked flanges d of two plungers constituting a pairdirected oppositely from each other, as indicated in Fig. 11, therebygiving the two adjacent hook-shaped flanges d the appearance of aT-shaped guide, the parts of which enter the oblique grooves 41/ in theadjoining faces of the adjacent wedges.

From the construction above described it will be noted that, the smallerends of the Wedges being directed downwardly, when said wedges descendthey act to advance the cracking-plungers toward each other or intotheir cracking positions, and if at this time there be interposedbetween the plungers a group of nuts the two groups of the advancingplungers act to center the nuts centrally of the carrier E prior totheir cracking operation. It will furthermore be noted that by reason ofthe vertical movements of the wedges and interlocking connection betweenthe wedges and heads of said plungers, consisting of the flanges cl onsaid heads and the grooves 92 of the wedges, when said wedges are raisedthey act to retract the cracking-plungers into their inoperativepositions.

Means are provided whereby the plungers of the opposing groups areadvanced into cracking action simultaneously with each other and are inlike manner withdrawn from their cracking positions, said meansoperating through the medium of said wedges N. When the plungers areretracted and the wedges are therefore in their upper position, thewedges are positively held in their upper positions by the means whichraised them. After a' group of nuts are advanced by the carrier Ebetween the plungers the wedges are allowed to drop by gravity and actto thrust the plungers inwardly toward their cracking positions untilarrested by contact of the inner ends of the plungers with the nuts. Thewedges are free to descend independently each of the other, and in casethe nuts of a group to be cracked be of different lengths the plungersof an opposing pair which engage the largest nut will be first arrested,the associated wedges being at the same time arrested. The opposingplungers engaging the successively shorter nuts (if all the nuts be ofdifl erent lengths) are arrested in the same manner at different placesin their movements to accommodate difierent-length nuts. The twoplungers acting against a given nut move, however, equally toward eachother,and therefore center the nut on the carrier E. In practice meansare provided which act during the time the carrier E is being shiftedfrom one position to an advance position to raise all the wedges, andthereby withdraw all the plungers to their inactive positions." Afterthe wedges have been raised to their highest positions and a new groupof nuts delivered between the same they are then permitted toindependently descend and independently move inwardly the opposing pairsof plungers until arrested by the interposed nuts and centering thenuts. When the nuts are so centered, the cross-heads O are movedinwardly to force the entire set of'wedges and crushers inwardlytogether to crush the nuts. The means herein shown for raising thewedges and acting therethrough to withdraw the plungers in theirinoperative positions are made as follows: P P designate two similarlyconstructed vertically-swinging levers, one of which acts to raise oneset of wedges and the other the other set. a main shank p, provided atits outer end with fork-armsp p, Figs. 6 and 8, having rocking bearingat separated points on horizontal transverse shafts P, suitably mountedin the machine-frame. Said levers P are provided each at their innerends with plates P located one vertically beneath each set or group ofwedges and each plate adapted to engage the lower ends of rods Nextending downwardly from the wedges N, whereby when said plates areraised the wedges are raised through the medium of said rods N Eachlever is herein shown as pivoted to its shaft P at one end of themachine and extends at its other Each lever comprises, as herein shown,

end in overlapping relation to the other lever, with its plate P beneaththe set of wedges located near the end of the machine distant from theend at which .the lever is pivoted. Said levers are adapted to be raisedby means of peripherally-eccentric cams Q Q on the counter-shaft K,Figs. 1, 2, 7, and 8, and yokes P P, hinged at their upper ends to thelevers P at laterally-separated points by means of bolts or pivot-pins pFigs. 6 and 8, and provided with laterally-directed roller-bearing pins19, that rest and roll on the peripheries of said cams Q. Said yokes areprovided with guide-arms f, (shown in dotted linesin Figs. 3 and 7 andin full lines in Fig. 8,) that have guiding engagement with the h ubs ofthe cams Q. The plate P of each lever occupies the space between thepoints of pivot of the other lever on the bolts 9 Fig. 6. The cams areso disposed with respect to each other that they act to lift the outerends of the leversPsimultaneously, and thereby simultaneously raise thewedges N and withdraw the plungersD,and this movement takes place at thetime the carrier E is advancing just after a group of nuts have beencracked. hen the antifrictionrollers 9 of the yokes I pass off thehigher parts of the cams Q, the wedges N are allowed to drop, and theextent of their drop depends upon the lengths of thenuts caught betweenthe opposing plungers, as before explained. In Fig. 8 are indicated theplungers in their downward positions with at least three differentlengths of nuts between the plungers, whereby is seen that the tops ofthe wedges that appear in this view occupy three different verticalplanes. After the nuts have'been brought to register between the severalplungers and centered with respect to the carrier in the mannerdescribed the plungers are forced inwardly through pressure applied tothe wedges a sufficient distance to crack or disrupt the shells of thenuts. This may be accomplished by various mechanism, but, as hereinshown, is effected by the following construction: The said cross-headsO, as before stated and as'rnore clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7,slide toward and from each other in horizontal ways provided in thebedframe of the machine and during such sliding movement transmit to theplungers the cracking pressure to crack the nuts. Both crossheads arethus pressed inwardly simultaneously. In the construction shown thecrossheads are thus moved inwardly by means of Vertioally-reciprocatorylevers R R, which are pivoted near their upper ends to the bedframe ofthe machine by means of pivot-pins l' 9", located beneath thecross-head, Figs. 2 and 8. Said levers are provided at their upper endswith inwardly-directed faces which bear against the outer faces of thecross-heads O. The said crushing-levers extend at their lower ends inthe vicinity of the countershaft K and are provided at their lower endstions Q on the lateral faces of the cams Q, whereby in each rotation ofthe cams the the upper ends of the levers being forced inwardly andexerting a crushing pressure of an extent to force the plungers inwardlyto insure the cracking of the nuts caught between the plungers. I Inorder to restore the plungers and the cross-heads to their retractedpositions after the rollers T have passed off the cam projections Q,springs O are interposed between the inner faces of the said cross-headsand the rear outer faces of the stationary guides D, said springs beingmore clearly shown in Fig. 11. Said springs O force the cross-headoutwardly against stops conthrough and having screw-threadedengageframe. By turning said stop-screws inwardly and outwardly themovement of the crosshead is varied. The construction is such that thecross-head is always in engagement with the upper ends of the lever R,so that if the stop-screw 0 be set to permit a longer retractivemovement of the cross-head, the forward travel of the cross-head, thewedges and plungers will be longer than if the cross-head be arrestedearlier by said screw 0 in their retractive movement. In this manner,therefore, the length of cracking movements of the plungers may beregulated, with a result of action on the shells of the nuts.

One of the features of my improvements .consists in dropping ordepressing the part of the upper lap of the carrier which delivers thenuts to the cracking mechanism just after the nuts have been centered bythe plungers D D, thereby preventing the ends of the plungers engagingthe carrier, with the result of distorting the links of the carrier andsometimes locking or placing a strain on the machine. The mechanism bywhich this result is effected is constructed as follows: The upper lapof the chain is partially supported and guided in its part between thesprocketwheels E E by a longitudinal plate S, as shown more clearly inFigs. 3, 9, and 11. Said plate is attached to the upper end of avertically reciprocating cross head T, the cross-head being provided atits top with a flange a, through which the grooved guidebar is attachedby means of screws 8, Fig. 11. The means for effecting a guidingengagement of the cross-head T with the bed-frame A of the machine, asherein shown, consists in providing said bed-frame withdetachablyconnected vertical bars a Figs. 9 and 10, between which areformed grooves to receive the edge margins of the cross-head. The saidcross-head is provided at its upper lateral margins with flanges T,Figs. 9 and 11, that lower ends of the levers are forced outwardly,

sisting, as herein shown, of screws extending.

ment with brackets 0,attached to the machine.

regulating the extent of cracking or crushing have overlappingengagement with the side margins of the links of the carrier and arecurved upwardly at their ends to properly admit the links thereunderwhile passing this part of the machine. With this construction,therefore, it will be noted that when the crosshead T is depressed itnot only permits the carrier E to fall by gravity, (which in some casesmay be suflicient to effect the result desired,) but the interlockingflanges T positively draw this part of the carrier downwardly, so thatthere is no possibility for engagement of the crushing-plungers with thecarrier. It will be noted in this connection that the carrier advancingand locking mechanism is so positive in its movement that there is nolikelihood of the partitions between the pockets of the carrier Egetting into line with the plungers; but if this should occur the dropin the chain is sufficient to shift the carrier below the line of theplungers, and thereby in this emergency avoid any serious consequencesdue to the cause mentioned. Said cross-head is raised and lowered toeffect the dropping of the carrier by the following means: T Figs. 9 and10, designates an offset vertical stem, which is connected at its upperend with the cross-head T and is connected at its lower end with a yokeT the arms of which pass at the sides of and have guiding engagementwith the hub of a camdisk T on the counter-shaft K. Said yoke isprovided with a laterally-extending pin provided with anantifriction-roller t which engages a peripheral surface of the cam T.The periphery of the cam is made concentric, except for a depression tFig. 3, therein, and the parts are so disposed that the roller 6 dropsinto said depression t after the plungers have centered the nuts andjust before the cracking movement of the plungers begin. During theremaining part of the cycle of the machine the roller 6 rides on theconcentric portion of the cam, and thus holds the upper lap of thecarrier in its uppermost position.

The mechanism will now be described for operating the ejectors Gr,hereinbefore referred to, by which the nuts are ejected from the boxes Fat the lower ends of-the chutes F into the severel alined pockets of thecarrier- E. Such construction is shown more clearly in Figs. 2, 4, and 6and is made as follows: U U designate two vertically-reciprocatinglevers which are pivoted to the lower ends of arms (0 extendingdownwardly from the bedframe of the machine, and said levers extend attheir upper ends into openings in the crossheads g, Fig. 5, to whichsaid ejectors G are attached. The normal position of said levers isshown in Fig. 2that is, their upper ends swing outwardly, so as to holdthe cross-heads g and ejectors Gr outwardly away from the boxes F Forthis purpose the lower ends of the levers are connected beneath theirpivots by means of a contractile spring U. Means are provided whichactduring each cycle or operation of the machine to throw the upper endsofthe leversinwardly against the action of said spring U to force theejectors through the boxes F and so timed with respect to the otherworking parts of the machine that such inward movement of the ejectorsoccurs at a.

time when the intermittently-advancing carrier E is stationary. Suchreciprocation of the levers U is effected by means ofrearwardly-directed vertically-movable pinsVV,

extending rearwardly from the yokes P be' fore referred to, Figs. 6 and7. The lowerends of said levers U are provided on their inner faces withspring-pressed pawls U Fig. 2, each consisting of a long arm a and ashorter arm a. The longer arm a of the pawl is generally parallel withthe lever U, its free end extending at an angle beyond the margin ofsaid lever, as shown in Fig. 2. The shorter arm of the pawl is heldnormally against the stop a at the lower end of the lever by means of aspring a, that is fixed to a pin a on the lever. The pins V have arising-and-falling movement corresponding to the rising and, falling ofthe yokes P to which they are attached. The said pins V are when therollers p of the yokes P are riding on the higher portions of the cams Qin position to engage the inner margins of the parts of the longer armsof the pawls which project beyond the levers U, as shown in Figs. 2 and2. When said pins V begin to move downwardly, by reason of the fallingof the yokes.

they engage the inner margins of the longer arms of the pawl, andinasmuch as said pawl cannot swing farther outwardly by reason of theaction of the stop-pins a on the longer arms of the pawls the pins V acton said longer arms of the pawls as cams to swing the lower ends of thelevers outwardly and the inner ends inwardly to effect the ejection ofthe nuts from the boxes F to the pockets of the carrier E. Such movementof the pins V continues until the pins V pass from the longer arms ofthe pawls to the lower margins of the shorter arms thereof. This occursjust as the full swing of the levers U is completed. The pins V nowstart to move upwardly and force the shorter arm of the pawl upwardlyagainst the action of the spring a and in the continned rising of thepins they engage the inner margin of the longer arms of the pawls, saidlonger arms yielding inwardly until the pins V have passed the same,after which said longer arms of the pawls swing outwardly outside of theupper ends of the pawls. As soon as the pins pass upon the shorter armsof the pawls the spring U acts to swing the upper ends of the lovers Uoutwardly and withdraw the ejectors G from the boxes F.

In order to prevent the nuts from sticking in the pockets 0 of thedelivery carrier or belt G, and thereby preventing them from fallingproperly into the chutes F, an ejecting device is provided for forcingthe nuts from said pockets when the pockets are in line with the chutes.Said ejecting device consists of a plurality of ejecting-pins W, adaptedto enter and be thrust through openings in the bottoms of said pockets 0and attached to a frame or plate W, which fits over and has slottedconnection with the shaft 0 of the upper sprocket-wheel E, whereby saidframe and pins may-slide toward and from the row of pockets at the timethey are in line with the chutes F. Said frame W is reciprocatedhorizontally by means of a bellcrank lever VV rotatively mounted inbrackets w on the standards B of the frame. Said bell-crank lever isprovided with two generally horizontal arms VV which are adapted forengagement with the upper ends of the wedges N when the latter areraised and is connected centrally with the frame W of the ejectingdevice by means of a resilient rod or strip WV". With this construction,therefore, it will be seen that when the wedges N rise to retract thecracking-plungers they act on the arms W of the bell-crank lever V andthrough the connecting rod or strip W to thrust the ejectors l/Voutwardly into the pockets of the carrier G, and thereby eject any nutsfrom the pockets tending to stick therein. The said ejecting device isadapted to be retained normally in its retracted posi tion by means of arestoring-spring WV, attached at one end to the central rod or-shaft ofthe bell-crank lever and at its other end to the shaft 0 on the lowerdriving-wheel C of the carrier or belt.

' Preferably I provide a brush or brushes X within the hopper, adaptedto engage the upper face of the part of the belt or carrier 0 thattravels along the inclined side of the hopper, and thereby properlyforcing the nuts in the pockets of the belts and preventing more thanone nut being carried upwardly in each pocket. Said brush or brushes areattached to somewhat resilient arms X, affixed to the rim of the hopper,Fig. 3, and to the said brush, thereby causing the brush to be depressedagainst the'upper face of the carrier with a yielding pressure. It willbe understood that the brush is sufliciently yielding by reason of theconstruction described and is made of such material as not to tend tobrush the nuts out of the pockets after they have found their placestherein.

Desirably the cracking-plungers are made hollow and contain ejectingdevices, which when the plungers are retracted act to force or eject thecracked nuts tending to cling or adhere to the concaved ends of theplungers. Said ejectors consist, as herein shown, of rods Z, whichextend through suitable axial openings in the plungers and are providedat their rear end with downturned portions Z, which occupy suitablerecesses in the plungers, as

"shown in Figs. 9 and 11. They are attached that it may be removed andanother supplied without renewing the entire plunger when nutsvarying-in shape are cracked.

While I have shown and herein described an operative structure embodyingmy invention and one which is considered as an approved form, yet it isto be understood that the details of the construction may be widelyvaried without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do notwish to be limited to such details, except as hereinafter made thesubject of specific claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a nut-cracking machine, the combinationwith a carrier, of two groups of crackingplungers, one at each side ofthe carrier, the plungers of at least one group being independen tlymovable toward and from the plungers of the other group,independentlymovable wedges individual to and acting on said plungers toforce the same inwardly, and means whereby the plungers are retracted asthe wedges are retracted.

2. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of twogroups of crackingplungers, one at each side of the carrier, theplungers of at least one group being horizontally and independentlymovable toward and from the other plungers, independently-movable wedgesindividual to and having vertically-sliding, interlocking engagementwith theindependently-movable plungers,whereby the plungers are forcedtoward andretracted from the carrier during the endwise movements of thewedges in both directions.

3. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of twogroups of crackingplungers, one at each side of the carrier, theplungers of at least one group being horizontally and independentlymovable toward and from the other plungers, independently-movable wedgesindividual to and acting on said plungers to force the same inwardly,means whereby the plungers are retracted as the wedges are retracted,and means for transmitting a crushing pressure to said plungers throughsaid wedges.

4:. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of twogroups of crackingplungers, one at each side of the carrier, theplungers of at least one group being horizontally and independentlymovable toward and from the plungers of the other group, independently,gravity acting wedges for forcing the independently movable plungersinwardly, and means whereby the plungers are retracted as the wedges areretracted.

5. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier, of twogroups of'crackingplungers, one group at each side of the carrier, theplungers of at least one group being horizontally movable toward andfrom the plungers of the other group, independentlymovable,gravity-acting wedges individual to said independently-movable plungersand acting by gravity to force their associated plungers toward thecarrier, means for raising said wedges and coacting means on theplungers acting to retract the plungers during the rising movement ofthe wedges.

6. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination witha-horizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movablewedge having an inclined face which engages an inclined face on theplunger and interlocking,

vertically-sliding connection between the wedge and plunger,

7. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with ahorizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movablewedge and a guide therefor, said wedge and guide having a limitedhorizontal movement with the plunger, said wedge acting in one directionof its movement to move the plunger endwise relatively to the guide forthe wedge, and means acting through'the wedge for further forcing theplunger end wise.

8. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with ahorizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movablewedge and a guide therefor, said wedge and guide having a limitedhorizontal movement with the plunger, the wedge having interlockingengagement with the plunger in a manner to move the'plungerhorizontally, relatively to the wedge-guide, in both directions ofmovement of the wedge, and means acting through said wedge and its guidefor transmitting endwise movement to the plunger.

9. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with ahorizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movablewedge, one side facc of which tapers upwardly and inwardly and theplunger being provided with a corresponding taper and having a flangethat has longitudinal sliding connection with the wedge, ahorizontally-movable, sliding cross-head engaging the wedge on the sidethereof opposite to said plunger and means for applying power to saidcross-head to force said wedge and plunger inwardly.

10. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier for thenuts, of two opposed groups of cracking-plungers, one group on each sideof the carrier, the individual plungers of each group beingindependently slidable relatively to each other, means acting topreliminarily move the opposing plungers of the two groups toward eachother a like distance from their starting-points to center the nuts onthe carrier, and means acting thereafter to force the plungers intotheir cracking position.

11. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier for thenuts, of two opposed groups of cracking-plungers, one group on each sideof the carrier, the individual plungers of each group beingindependently slidable relatively to each other, means acting topreliminarily move the opposing plun gers of the two groups toward eachother a like distance from their starting-points to center the nuts onthe carrier, and pressure devices, one for each group of plungers,operating to simultaneously force the plungers into their crackingposition.

12. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with a carrier for thenuts, of two opposed groups of cracking-plungers, one group on each sideof the carrier, the individual plungers of each group beingindependently slidable relatively to each other, means acting topreliminarily move the opposing plungers of the two groups toward eachother a like distance from their starting-points to center the nuts onthe carrier, pressure devices, one for each group of plungers, operatingto simultaneously force the plungers into their cracking position, andmeans for varying the cracking throw of the plungers.

13. In aunt-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier,of two groups of opposedhorizontally-reciprocating cracking-plungers, guides, one on each sideof the carrier, in which said plungers are independently slidable, meansacting on the outer ends of said plungers for forcing them inwardly tocenter the nuts on the carrier, and means acting through the medium ofsaid centering means to transmit pressure to the plungers to force themtoward each other in their cracking positions.

1a. In a nut-cracking machine, the combi nation with anintermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed,horizontally-reciprocating cracking-plungers, guides, one on each sideof the carrier, in which said plungers are independently slidable,vertically-slidable wedges acting on said plungers to force theminwardly to center the nuts on the carrier, and means for applyingpressure to said wedges, said pressure acting therethrough on theplungers to force the latter into their cracking positions.

15 In anut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier,of two groups of opposed,horizontally-reciprocating cracking-plungers, guides, one on each sideof the carrier, in which said plungers are independently slidable,vertically-slidable wedges, the inclined faces of which bear againstcomplementally-inclined parts of the plungers, and have interlocking,longitudinally-sliding engagement therewith, whereby, when the wedgesare raised, the plungers slide outwardly and when they are depressed theplungers slide inwardly, means for positively raising the wedges, andpermitting them to drop independently one of the other, and

means for applying pressure,.acting through the wedges on the plungersto force the latter into their cracking positions.

16. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier,of two groups of opposed,horizontally-reciproeating plungers, guides, one on each side of thecarrier in which said plungers are independently slidable,vertically-slidable wedges acting on said plungers when moved downwardlyto force the plungers inwardlyv to center the nuts and interlocked withthe plungers so that as the wedges move upwardly theplungers are movedoutwardly, means for simultaneously raising both sets of wedges andadapted to release them at the same time to permit the wedges toindependently drop and the plungers to move inwardly to an extentpermitted by the length of nuts caught between opposing plungers, andmeans acting horizontally against said wedges to force the plungers intotheir cracking positions.

17. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with a machine-frame, anintermittentlymovable carrier, of two groups of opposed,horizontally-reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of thecarrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges havinglongitudinally interlocking connection with said plungers, whereby, whenthe wedges are raised the plungers move outwardly and when depressed theplungers move inwardly to center the nuts on the carrier, means forraising said wedges together and permitting them to fall independentlyof each other,means acting through said wedges to force the plungersinto their cracking positions embracing swinging levers acting at oneend on said pl unger's and cams moving in unison and acting against theother ends of said levers.

18. In aunt-cracking machine, the combination with a machine-frame, anintermittentlymovable carrier, of two groups o opposed,longitudinally-reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of thecarrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges havinglongitudinallyinterlocking connection with said plungers, whereby, whenthe wedges are raised the plungers move outwardly and when depressed theplungers move inwardly to center the nuts on the carrier, means forraising said wedges together and permitting them to fall independentlyof each other, means acting through said wedges to force the plungersinto their cracking positions embracing swinging levers acting at oneend on said plungers, cams moving in unison and acting against the otherends of said levers,

and means for varying the effective throw of the levers to vary thecracking force of the plungers.

19. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with the machine-frame,and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed,horizontally-reciprocating plungers,

frame in the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging thefaces of the wedges on the sides opposite the plungers, and means forapplying pressure to said cross-heads, to move the wedges and plungerstoward each other to force the plungers into their cracking positions.

20. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with the machine-frame,and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed,horizontally-reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of thecarrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, theinclined parts of which engage the plungers and havinglongitudinally-slidable, interlocking engagement with the plungers,whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontal movement tothe plungers, means for raising said wedges and permitting them to dropindependently one of the other,crossheads sliding in the machineframe inthe direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces of thewedges on the sides opposite the plungers, and means for applying inwardpressure to said crossheads, comprising levers each bearing at one endagainst the outer face of its associated cross-head and means forswinging said levers to move said engaged ends toward said crossheads. I

21. Inanut-cracking machine, thecombination with the machine-frame, andan intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed,horizontallyreciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of thecarrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, theinclined parts of which engage the plungers and havinglongitudinally-slidable, interlocking engagement with the plungers,whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontal movement tothe plungers, means for raising said wedges and permitting them to dropindependently one of the other, cross-heads sliding in the machineframein the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces ofthe wedges on the sides opposite the plungers, means for applyingpressure to said cross-heads, to move the wedges and plungers towardeach other to force the plungers into their cracking positions, andrestoring-springs for restoring said cross-heads to their normal outerposition.

22. Inanut-crackingmachine, the combination with the machine-frame, andan intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed,horizontally reciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of thecarrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, theinclined parts of which engage the plungers and havinglongitudinally-slidable interlocking engagement with theplungers,whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontalmovement to the plungers, means for raising said wedges and permittingthem to drop independently one of the other, cross-heads sliding in themachine-frame in the direction of movement of the plungers and engagingthe faces of the wedges on the sides opposite the plungers, means forapplying pressure to said cross heads, to move the wedges and plungerstoward each other to force the plungers into their cracking positions,restoringsprings for restoring said cross-heads to their normal outerpositions, and adjustable stops for arresting the outward movements ofsaid cross-heads, whereby the length of horizontal movement of the headsmay be varied to vary the throw of the plungers.

23. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with ahorizontally-movable plunger and its guide, of a vertically-movable,gravity-acting wedge, a horizontally-movable part with which said wedgehas vertically-sliding, interlocking connections, whereby the wedgemoves horizontally with said part, and moves also vertically relativelythereto, said wedge having similar sliding, interlocking engagement withthe plunger.

24. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with the machine-frame,and an intermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of opposed,horizontallyreciprocating plungers, guides, one on each side of thecarrier, in which said plungers slide, vertically-slidable wedges, theinclined parts of which engage the plungers and havinglongitudinally-slidable, interlocking engagement with the plungers,whereby vertical movement of the wedges imparts horizontal movement tothe plungers, means for raising said wedges and permitting them to dropindependently one of the other, cross-heads sliding in the machine-framein the direction of movement of the plungers and engaging the faces ofthe wedges on the sides thereof opposite the plungers, means forapplying pressure to said cross-heads to move the wedges and plungerstoward each other to force the plungers into their cracking positions,restoring-springs for restoring said cross-heads to their normal outerposition, and interlocking connection between the crossheads and wedges,permitting vertical movement of the wedges relatively to the cross-'heads, whereby the wedges and plungers are retracted with thecross-heads.

25. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, and two opposedgroups of cracking-plungers one at each side of the carrier and ahopper, of means for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carriercomprising an intermittently-movable delivery-belt one lap of whichtravels through a slot or opening in said hopper and provided. with aseries of transversely-arranged pockets and aplurality of chutes adaptedto register at their upper ends with and receive nuts from the pocketsof the delivery-belt and means at the lower ends of said chutes fordirecting the nuts from said chutes to contiguous pockets in thecarrier.

26. In a nu t-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, and two opposedgroups of craeking-plungers one at each side of the carrier and ahopper, of means for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carriercomprising an intermittently-movable delivery-belt, one lap of whichtravels through a slot or opening in said hopper and provided with aseries of transversely-arranged pockets a plurality of chutes adapted toregister at their upper ends with and receive nuts from the pockets ofthe delivery-belt, means at the lower ends of said chutes for directingthe nuts from said chutes to contiguous pockets in the carrier,comprising a box at the lower end of each chute, the boxes of the chutesbeing arranged out of line with each other and severally in line withthe pockets of the carrier and provided in their sides adjacent to thecarrier with openings, and ejecting plungers adapted to be forcedtransversely through the boxes to force the nuts through said-openingsinto the pockets of the carrier.

27. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, two opposed groupsof cracking-plungers one at each side of the carrier and a hopper, ofmeans for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carrier comprisingan intermittently-movable deliverybelt, one lap of which travels througha slot or opening in said hopper and provided with a series oftransversely-arranged pockets a plurality of chutes adapted to registerat their upper ends with and receive nuts from the pockets of thedelivery-belt, means at the lower ends of said chutes for directing thenuts from said chutes to contiguous pockets in the carrier, comprising abox at the lower end of each chute, the boxes of the chutes beingarranged out of line with each other and severally in line with thepockets of the carrier and provided in their sides adjacent to thecarrier with openings, and ejecting-plungers adapted to be forcedtransversely through the boxes to force the latter through said openingsinto the pockets of the carrier the Walls of said boxes adjacent to saidcarrier being made yielding.

28. In a nut-cracking machine, the combina tion with theintermittently-movable carrier thereof provided with a longitudinalseries of transverse pockets, the cracking-plungers and a hopper, ofmeans for feeding the nuts from the hopper to the carrier, comprising aplurality of chutes, means for delivering nuts from said hopper to saidchutes, said chutes terminating at their lower ends in boxes, one foreach chute, and located at the side of the carrier, said boxes beingprovided at their lateral side walls with openings which register withthe pockets of the carrier, and ejec tor-plungers which slide throughthe boxes to direct the nuts from the boxes to said pockets of thecarrier.

29. Inanut-crackingmachine, thecombination with theintermittently-movable carrier thereof provided with a longitudinalseries of transverse pockets, the cracking-plungers and a hopper, ofmeans for feeding the nuts from the hopper to the carrier, comprising aplurality of chutes, means for delivering nuts from the hopper to saidchutes, said chutes termlnating at their lower ends 1n boxes, one

for each chute, and located at the side of the carrier, said boxes beingprovided at their lateral side walls with openings which register withthe pockets of the carrier, the inner side walls of the boxes adjacentto the carrier being yielding and means for directing the nuts laterallyfrom said boxes to the pockets of the carrier.

30. .In a nu t-cracking machine,the combination with theintermittently-movable carrier thereof provided with a longitudinalseries of transverse pockets, the cracking-plungers and a hopper, ofmeans for feeding the nuts from the hopper to the carrier, comprising aplurality of chutes, means for delivering nuts from. the hopper to saidchutes, said chutes terminating at their lower ends in boxes, one

for each chute, said boxes being arranged in sets, one set at each sideof the carrier, and the boxes of each set being arranged severally outof line with the boxes of the other set, and each box in lateralalinement with one of the pockets of the carrier, when the latter is atrest, the side walls of said boxes being provided with openings andplungers adapted to be forced through said boxes to direct the nutsthrough the openings in the inner side walls of the boxes into thepockets of the carrier.

31. In a nut-cracking machine,the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, two opposinggroups of cracking-plungers, one at each side of the carrier, and ahopper, of means for delivering the nuts from the hopper to the carriercom prising a plurality of inclined chutes, means for delivering nutsfrom the hopper to said chutes, said chutes terminating in boxes attheir lower ends,one set at each side of the carrier, and provided intheir side walls with openings in lateral alinement with the pockets ofthe carrier, when the carrier is at rest, two setsof connected plungerseach adapted to be forced laterally through openings in the side wallsof the boxes to direct the nuts from the boxes to the pockets of thecarrier, and means for operating each set of plungers, comprising leverspivoted between their ends to the machine-frame and connected at theirupper ends with said connected plungers, a spring connecting the lowerends of the levers for holding the upper ends of the levers and plungersoutwardly, and pins connected to rising and falling parts of the machinefor swinging said lower ends of the levers outwardly against the actionof said spring.

32. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier provided with pockets, two opposinggroups of cracking-plungers, one at each side of the carrier, and ahopper, of means for deliver ing the nuts from the hopper to the carriercomprising a plurality of inclined chutes, means for delivering nutsfrom the hopper to said chutes, said chutes terminating in boxes attheir lower ends, one set at each side of the carrier, and providedintheir side walls with openings in lateral alinement with the pockets ofthe carrier, when the carrier is at rest, two sets of connected plungerseach adapted to be forced laterally through openings in the side wallsof the boxes to direct the nuts from the boxes to the pockets of thecarrier, and means for operating each set of plungers, comprising leverspivoted between their ends to the machine-frame and connected at theirupper ends with said connected plungers, aspring connecting the lowerends of the levers for holding the upper ends of the levers and plungersoutwardly, spring-pressed pawls on the lower ends of said levers, astationary stoppin on each lever against which one arm of its pawl isheld by its spring, said rising and falling pins when in their upperpositions engaging one margin of said pawl, and, when moving downwardly,acting through the pawls and stationary stop-pins to swing the lowerends of the levers outwardly, and the pawls yielding, when the saidvertically-movable pins reach the lower ends thereof, to permit saidmovable pins to move past the lower ends of the pawls, ride upwardlyagainst one margin thereof and to pass the upper ends of the pawls toagain engage the margins of the pawls with which they were firstengaged.

33. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable endless carrier and two groups of opposinghorizontally-movable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of thecarrier, of means for depressing the part of the carrier between saidplungers before the cracking-plungers are moved into their crackingpositions.

34. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier, two groups of opposing plungers andmeans for moving the plungers in their cracking positions, of means fordepressing that part of the carrier beneath the plungers during theeffective cracking movement of the plungers.

35. Inanut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable.endless carrier, two groups of opposinghorizontallymovable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of thecarrier. and means acting severally on the plungers to center the nutsbetween the same of means acting after the nuts are centered and beforethe plungers are moved into their cracking positions for depressing thepart of the carrier between said plungers.

36. In anut-crackingmachine, the combination with anintermittently-movable endless carrier and two groups of opposinghorizontally-movable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of thecarrier, of means for depressing the part of the carrier between saidplungers before the crackingplungers are moved into their crackingpositions, embracing a vertically-movable guide for said carrier locatedbetween said plungers, and means acting to draw said guide downwardly todepress the carrier just before the plungers are moved into theircracking position.

37. In anut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable endless carrier and two groups of opposinghorizontally-movable cracking-plungers, one group on each side of thecarrier, of means for depressing the part of the carrier between saidplungers before the cracking-plungers are.

moved into their cracking positions, embracing a vertically-movableguide for said carrier located between said plungers, averticallymovable cross-head attached to said guide and having guidingengagement with the machineframe, a rotative cam and a stem attached tothe cross-head, and having a pin which engages the cam-surface of saidcam.

38. In a nut-cracking machine, the combination with anintermittently-movable carrier, of two groups of cracking-plungers oneat each side of the carrier, stationary guides, one at each side of thecarriers in which said plungers slide toward and from the carrier, meansacting on the plungers to move them inwardly to engage the nuts for thepurpose of centering them on the carrier, and means exerting pressureagainst the outer ends of said plungers to move them into their crackingpositions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aflix mysignature, in presence of two witnesses, this 13th day of August, A. D.1904.

SILAS M. BROWN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HALL, GEORGE RAYMOND WILKINS.

